Indicating device for displaying variable information



N. SANDOR 2,013,506

INDICATING DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING VARIABLE INFORMATION Sept. 3, 1935.

Fild April 11, 19:55

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N. SANDOR Sept. 3, 1935.

2,013,506 INDICATING DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING VARIABLE INFORMATION FiledApril 11, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl G5.

yum win/w MWW 68 N. SANDOR Sept. 3, 1935.

INDICATING DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING VARIABLE INFORMATION Filed April 11,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 AwMMw M-u Sept. 3, 1935. I SANDOR 2,013,506

INDICATING DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING VARIABLE INFORMATION Filed April 11,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 INDICATING DEVICE FORDISPLAYING VARIABLE INFQRMATION Nicholas Sandor, Surbiton, England,assignor to Mechanical lnformator don, England (1933) Limited, Lon-Application April 11, 1935, Serial No. 15,781 In Great Britain July 15,1933 7 Claims.

This invention relates to advertising, indicating and displayingdevices. More particularly the invention relates to such devices inwhich a plurality of frames containing the matter to be dis- 5 playedare disposed in a cabinet having a display window and adapted to beselectively displaced in the cabinet and raised by depression of a keyassociated with the cabinet into position behind the display window.

In accordance with the principal feature of this invention frames arearranged to one or more sides of the observation window provided in thecabinet and associated with a plurality of buttons or keys correspondingto the frames, each of which buttons or keys is connected with a Bowdenwire, lever or the like, movement of which wire, lever or the likeserves to bring the selected frame into a condition to be operated by anelectric motor and to start the motor.

The frames may, if desired, be disposed in two groups on opposite sidesof the observation window, preferably above and below, permitting theuse of a cabinet of relatively shallow dimensions, and also, if desired,the use of the same guides for the frames of the two groups. Separateguides may, however, be provided for the frames of the two groups.

Various embodiments of the invention'are illust'rated in theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of theapparatus with the front of the cabinet and the operating keys omittedfor the sake of clearness, Fig. 2is a side elevation, whilst Fig. 3 is asomewhat diagrammatic view to a larger scale showing in detail theswitch and frame operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticillustration of a further embodiment of the invention, while Figs. 5 and6 are diagrammatic illustrations of a still further embodiment of theinvention.

40 Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, i

denotes a cabinet containing a series of frames 2 and 2' on which isprovided the information which it is the function of the particularapparatus to impart. These frames are suitably sup- 4 ported and movableon rotatable spindles and guided in guides. In the form shown each frameis provided at one side with a sleeve 4 embracing a screw-threadedspindle 5, the other side of each frame being mounted in a guide 6. Inorder to keep the depth of the cabinet within reasonable limits theframes are preferably arranged in two groups, the frames 2 of one groupbeing normally supported above and the frames 2' being supported belowthe observation window 3. The spindles 5 are mounted in bearings l and 8and are driven from an electric motor 9 disposed within the cabinetthrough pulleys l and H and belt I 2, the pulley H being mounted on ashaft l3 which drives the vertical spindles through gearing (not shown).The frames are adapted to be 5 moved selectively to bring theinformation thereon into register with an observation window by means ofa series of keys i and M mounted in a bank at the front of the cabinetI. Each key M connected by means of a Bowden Wire or the like 10 Hi toone arm of a bell crank lever H, the other arm of which engages a slotl8 in a pin 19 which is slidably mounted in the sleeve 3 and ondepression of the key moves-the bell crank lever against the action of aspring 2!. Each key I operates 5 through Bowden wires it a bell cranklever ll, the other arm of the bell crank lever i'i engaging a collar 58on the pin l9 which is normally held in engagement with an annular slot20 in the screw threads 5 by means of a spring 2!. On depresg0 sion ofthe keys M the keys engage bars 22 mounted on bell crank levers 23 whichengage collars 24 on .a spindle 25 which operates a bell crank lever 26connected by link 29 to a switch arm 27 of a mercury switch 28. In thesame 25 manner depression of a key 54 serves to operate the mercuryswitch 28. The switches 28, 28' are connected in series and control theelectric motor 9.

The switch arm 21 is also connected by means 30 of a rod 3! anddouble-armed lever 3| to a rod 32. A connecting link 33 mounted on theshaft 32 serves to move a pivot 34 mounted at one end of a double-armedlever 35 pivoting about a shaft 36. A cam bar Si is mounted in the otherend of 35 the double-armed lever 35.

The switch 28' is also connected by means of a rod 36', pivoted lever 3|to a shaft 32. A connecting link 33 mounted on the rod 32' serves tomove a pivot 3 mounted in one end of a double- 40 armed lever 35'pivoting about a shaft 36. A cam bar 3'! is mounted in the other end ofthe double-armed lever 35'.

The cam bars 3i, 3'! co-operate with cams 39, 35 mounted on the frames2, 2.

Annular grooves 20, 20 are provided in the screw-threaded spindles 5 toengage with the pins 59, it! so that the frames 2 and 2 may be held inpredetermined positions irrespective of the rotation of the spindles 5.Rubber buffers M1 and 45' are provided to support the upper frames 2 andlower frames 2 in their lowermost position.

In the operation of the apparatus depression of key M corresponding toone of the lower frames serves to close switch 28 which is not.-

mally in the off position and this starts the motor 9. All of thespindles 5 are therefore set in rotation. At the same time the pin I9operated by the key 84 is pushed into engagement with the screw threadin the spindle 5 and the frame 2' is thus carried vertically upwardsuntil the pin i9 enters the annular groove 25 which is so positionedthat in this position of the frame the information displayed on theframe 2! can be seen through the observation window 3. At this instantthe cam 39 engages the trip bar 3? which opens the switch 28 therebystopping the motor 9. The frame 2 remains in its elevated position infront of the window 3 until the key I4 is released when the pint?! iswithdrawn from the annular groove 25' on rod 5 and the frame 2 allowedto drop by gravity to its normal position of rest on the rubber buffer45'. When the key M is released switch 28 is returned to the normal offposition while the cam 39 releases the cam bar 3'? thus permittingswitch 25' to return tothe closed position.

Pressure on one of the keys 54 corresponding to one of'the upper groupof frames opens switch 28 which is normally in closed position and alsowithdraws the pin 59 from the screw thread on the spindle 5 thusallowing the frame 2 to drop into position in front of the observationwindow As the frame 2 drops the cam 35 trips the cam bar 3? thereofclosing switch 23. When the pressure on the key M is released switch 23returns to the normal on position or is closed, thus starting up themotor 9 and rotating the spindles 5 and at the same time pin it isallowed to enter the screw thread on the rotating spindle 5 and theframe 2 is raised until the pin i9 engages with the upper annular groove25 where the frame remains suspended. The cam bar 3? is also released bythe cam 39 thus returning switch 28' to its normal off position andstopping the motor 9.

If any two of the keys i4 controlling the lower series of frames shouldbe depressed together the two corresponding frames 2 would be raisedinto a position before the observation window 3 but of course only thematter contained on the frame nearest the window would be seen. If twokeys I4 controlling the upper group of frames were depressed at the sametime the two corresponding frames would drop and be restored to normalposition on release of the keys.

Depression of any of keys i4 and i4 may also serve to light an electriclamp or lamps for the purpose of illuminating the matter contained onthe frame brought into position before the observation window.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the frames 2 arearranged in a single group below the window 3, each frame being providedwith vertical guides (i. The frames 2 are supported on rubber blocks 45and each frame 2 is adapted to be raised in front of the observa tionwindow by means of a wire, cord or the like 4!, attached to the frame 2and passing over a pulley 42 at the upper end of the cabinet and thenceround a corresponding grooved roller or pulley 43 mounted loosely on itsaxle, the end of the wire being attached to the pulley 43 so that onrotation, the wire 4! is wrapped around the pulley 43 and the frame 2 israised before the observation window 3. Each roller or pulley 43 ismounted on a pivoted lever 14 which is adapted to be moved into aposition to cause the pulley '43 to engage with one of a pair ofcylindrical friction rollers 45 which are driven by means of belting i2,i2 from an electric motor 9. Each of the levers 44 is connected by meansof a Bowden wire E6 to a corresponding spring controlled key M.

Attached to each wire 4| is a collar or the like 45 which engages with abell crank lever 42 connected by means of a link 48 to a mercury switch28.

.The key board is, of course, normally placed at the front of themachine in the position shown in chain dotted lines.

For the lower pair of levers 44 the casing of the Bowden wire it isstationary, the wire itself being connected to the pivoted arms 44 atone end and to a double-armed lever 49 at the other end, the lever 55being operated by the key 94. For the upper pair of levers 44 the innerwire is fixed and the movement is transmitted by the outer casing of theBowden Wire I5.

The mercury switches 28 are normally closed and in series with the mainmotor switch (not shown). When one of the keys i4 is depressed to bringthe corresponding frame'into a position before'the observation window 3the main motor switch is closed, thus starting up the electric motor 9and raising the desired frame. When the frame is raised into a positionbefore the observation window one of the mercury switches 28 is openedby means of the collar 46 on the wire 4| engaging the bell crank lever4! thus stopping the electric motor 9. Release of the key [4 opens themain motor switch, and on the frame 2 returning to its normal position,the mercury switch 28 is returned to its closed position.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 60f the drawings the frames 2 are supported invertical guides 5. below the observation window 4 as described withreference to Fig. 4, each frame being provided with a Wire, rope or thelike 4i passing over grooved rollers or pulleys 42 at the top of themachine. Each wire 4! is provided with a loop, collar or the like 49adapted to engage with a corresponding hook or pair of prongs 50provided on a cylinder 45 which is driven by means of an electric motor9.

Each of the wires 4| is guided into and out of the path of the rotatingcylinder 45 by means of a guide member 51 mounted on a pivoted lever 52which is adapted to be depressed or raised by means of a Bowden wire I5connected to a corresponding key !4. Depression of a key M serves topull the inner member of the Bowden. wire it thus guiding the loop,collar or the like 49 of the corresponding wire 4| into the path of thehooks or prongs 50 on the rotating cylinder the key M opens the switch53 thus'releasing the spring-controlled lever 56 and disconnecting thecylinder 45 from the motor 9. When the cylinder 45 is disconnected fromthe motor 9 the Weight of the frame 2 will rotate the cylinder andrelease the loop 49 on the wire 4| from the hook 50. It is assumed inthis construction that the main motor switch is normally closed andconnected in series with the switch 53 so that when the switch 53 isclosed the motor is started I claim:

1. A display device comprising a cabinet, an observation window in saidcabinet, a plurality of cards containing matter to be displayed mountedlaterally of said observation window and movable in said cabinet, aplurality of keys corresponding to the display cards, an electric motorassociated with said display cards, a switch for said motor and meansconnecting each key with said switch and with one of said cards torender the selected card operable by the electric motor.

2. A display device comprising a cabinet, said cabinet formed with aviewing opening, a plurality of screw threaded spindles supported forrotation in said cabinet, a plurality of frames containing matter to bedisplayed, a nut-forming member connected with each of said frames andengageable with one of said screw-threaded spindles, a plurality ofkeys, one for each of said display frames, an electric motor forrotating said spindles, switch means for controlling said motor, meansconnecting each of said keys with said switch means, and meansconnecting each of said keys with one of the nut-forming members wherebysaid nut-forming member may be engaged with or released from itsspindle.

3. A display device comprising a cabinet, said cabinet provided with aviewing opening, a plurality of screw-threaded spindles mountedlaterally of said viewing opening, a plurality of frames containingmatter to be displayed, a nut-forming member connected with each of saiddisplay frames and engageable with one of said screwthreaded spindles, aplurality of keys mounted in said cabinet, one for each of said displayframes, an electric motor for rotatably driving said screwthreadedspindles, switching means for controlling said motor, means connectingeach of said keys with the nut-forming member on the correspondingframe, means connecting each key with the switching means and means onsaid screwthreaded spindles serving to hold the frames in positionbefore the viewing opening or beyond the viewing opening.

4. A display device comprising a cabinet, said cabinet provided with aviewing opening, a plu rality of frames containing matter to bedisplayed, a plurality of keys associated with the display frames, afriction disc associated with each of said frames and each of said keys,a tension member connecting each of said frames with its associatedfriction disc, an electric motor, a cylinder rotatably driven by saidmotor, switching means for controlling said motor, including a switchadapted to be closed by depression of any of said keys, and meansoperated by any of said keys to move its associated friction discrelative to said cylinder whereby to bring said disc and cylinder intodriving engagement.

5. A display device comprising a cabinet, said cabinet provided with aviewing opening, a plurality of frames containing matter to be displayedwithin said cabinet, a plurality of keys mounted in said cabinet, afriction disc associated with each of said frames and each of said keys,a tension member connecting each of said frames with its friction discfor bringing said frame in front of said viewing opening, an electricmotor, a cylinder rotatably driven by said motor, a main switch forstarting said motor, said switch adapted to be closed by depression ofany one of said keys, means operable by any of said keys to bring thecorresponding friction disc into engagement with said cylinder wherebyto bring the frame in front of the viewing opening, a second switchconnected in series with said main switch and means for opening saidsecond switch when said frame is in front of said viewing opening.

6. A dispay device comprising a cabinet, said cabinet provided with aviewing opening, a plurality of frames containing matter to be displayedwithin said cabinet, a plurality of .keys mounted in said cabinet, onefor each of said display frames, a friction disc associated with each ofsaid frames and each of said keys, a tension member connecting each ofsaid frames with its friction disc, said tension member serving to bringsaid frame in front of said viewing opening on rotation of said frictiondisc, an electric motor, a cylinder rotatably driven by said motor, amain switch for starting said electric motor, said switch adapted to beclosed by the depression of any one of said keys, means operable by eachof said keys to bring the corresponding friction disc into drivingengagement with said cylinder, said means including a pivoted leversupporting said friction disc, a second switch connected in series withsaid main switch and means for opening said second switch when saidframe is in position before said viewing opening.

7. A display device comprising a cabinet, an observation window in saidcabinet, a plurality of frames containing matter to be displayed mountedlaterally of said observation window and movable in said cabinet, aplurality of keys mounted in said cabinet corresponding to the displayframes, an electric motor associated with said display cards, arotatable cylinder adapted to be driven by said motor, a switch forstarting said motor, a plurality of tension members attached to saiddisplay frames and extending into the path of the rotatable cylinder andmeans on said cylinder serving to engage said tension members and meansoperated by each key to bring the corresponding tension member intoengagement with the last mentioned means on said cylinder whereby toproduce operation of the selected frame by the electric motor.

NICHOLAS SANDOR.

